Rules for taking cash out of the country have been tightened after the authorities observed the outflow of ill-gotten gains, the government said on Sunday.
At a press conference by the Home Ministry, Minister Ali Ihusan said the change brought to the rules was to require persons taking in excess of USD 10,000 when travelling abroad to disclose the source of the funds.
"In the past, the person taking USD 10,000 could just go after saying I'm taking this amount of dollars. The person won't even be asked a question. It is something that has international standards as well. The source of funds must be explained," the minister said.
Foreigners working as sales assistants, waiters at cafes and restaurants, cooks or labourers have been found to be travelling out of the country with more than USD 100,000 during a short period of employment in the Maldives, he said.
"Regardless of whether it's a Maldivian or a foreigner, if it's above USD 10,000, in Maldivian currency or foreign currency, we will not release the funds unless how it was earned could be explained properly," he said.
